"Kaise kar sakte hain woh tumhare saath aise?" (How can they do this to you?) she said, fuming with anger.
"Please aunty, mujhe yahan rakh lein. Thode din mei wapis nahi jaana chahti wahan"(please aunty let me stay here for some days I don't wanna go back) I said, and she looked at me with sadness.
"I would love to, but you know this is not possible," she said, and I knew it was difficult for her, so I nodded.
"Okay, leave it. Let me complete the remaining work," I said, as I started working.
"Meera beta, I'm sorry," she said. I looked at her and hugged her, placing a kiss on her cheek.
"Don't be, aunty. Aap meri mama ki jagah hain. Please don't say something like this,"( you are like my mother) I said, and she smiled.
"But I can help you with something," she said, and I looked at her with suspicious eyes.
"What?" I asked, and she made me sit on the stool.
"Tum Karachi chali jao,"(go to karachi) she said, and it caught me off guard.
"Sorry, kya kaha aapne?" (Sorry what did you said?) I asked again, shocked.
"Karachi chali jao, Meera. In sab se door. Trust me, khush rahogi, aur tum is shaadi se bhi bach jaogi,"(go to karachi Meera far away from all this trust me you'll be happy and you'll also escape this marriage) she said, and I was just looking at her.
"Main tumhe ek address doon gi. Woh meri behen ka ghar hai, wahan chali jana. Main usko bata doon gi ke tum aa rahi ho," (I'll give you the address of my sister you can go there and I will inform her about your arrival) she said, wiping the tears rolling down my face.
"But I can't do this to uncle and aunty," I said.
"Aaj meri baat sun lo gi toh bach jao gi, warna they will give you to that man,"(if you will listen to me today you will be save) she said, and I kept listening.
"If you think of me as your mother, then listen to me. I can't see my daughter pushing herself into hell," she said, and I nodded. She kissed my hands.
"Aaj raat 1 baje apna samaan pack rakhna. Main Qasim ko bhejungi tumhare paas. Theek hai?" (Pack your stuff still 1am I'll send qasim to you oky?) she said, and I hugged her again.
"Thank you so much, aunty. You don't know what you're doing for me. I love you. I'm blessed to have you, thank you so much," I said, crying, and she consoled me
"You are a really obedient daughter, you know that?" she chuckled, and I smiled too.
"I love you more. Bas apna khayal rakhna," (just take care of yourself) she said, and I nodded.
~Evening~
I came back home and saw chachi sitting on the sofa.
"Meera, make dinner," she ordered, and I quickly nodded, setting everything aside and doing as she asked. I began preparing dinner and made kebabs for them. After informing them about the dinner, I was heading to my room when chachu stopped me.
"Meera, sit with us and eat," his voice was firm and rude.
"Why? I mean, okay," I muttered, looking down as I sat at the table with them.
"Why is she sitting here with us?" Saba Api said, approaching the table.
"Because it's her last day with us. Tomorrow that man, Ijaz, will come and do the nikkah with her,"Β chachi said, and I fought to hold back my tears.
"Oh, so finally, you're leaving, bitch," Saba Api sneered. I closed my eyes and began reciting Surah to calm myself.
"Yes, Api," I replied softly, and she rolled her eyes.
"Well, eat now and go to sleep," chachiΒ instructed, and I nodded in response.
"And don't wear this abaya at the wedding. Be modern. What's the point of wearing this?" Saba Api said, and I sighed.
"I'm not wearing any flashy clothes. I'll wear the abaya, not for you, but for my Allah. You can't stop me. If you want to marry me off to that man, then let me wear what I want even if it's a niqab," I said, finishing my food before standing up.
"Girl thinks she looks good," I heard chachi mutter as I headed to my room. I took a shower, changed into a fresh abaya, laid down the prayer mat, and started praying Namaz. Tears fell from my eyes, and their words echoed in my mind. After offering Namaz, I raised my hands for dua and began crying bitterly.
"Ya Allah, only You know the state of my heart. Please give me patience. I don't want to become weak. Oh mere khudaya, help me. Please, just give my heart peace, which I'm not able to find right now. Ya Allah, help me," I cried out.
I don't know when I fell asleep on the prayer mat. It's a habit of mine; sometimes I fall asleep there. It's the only place where I find peace.
I woke up suddenly,my eyes heavy from the tears i had shed earlier. I glanced at the clock it was 1 AM.MyΒ heart raced as i realized what i had to do. I wasn't going to let them force me into this marriage. Not like this.
I quietly got up, careful not to make any noise. Gathering myself, i packed a small bag with essentials,myΒ hands trembling slightly.I quickly put on my abaya and niqab. This was my way out. There was no turning back now.
With a deep breath, i carefully opened my bedroom door, making sure no one was awake. The house was quiet, everyone sound asleep. Silently, i slipped out, leaving everything behind.
As i moved away from the house, i saw a familiar figure standing in the distance. It was Qasim,he is 15 years old who always calls me Api he is like a younger brother to me.
"Api, are you ready?" he asked, and I nodded.
"I'm a little stressed," I confessed, and he smiled at me.
"Don't worry, Api, you got this! Now give me your things, and hurry up, or we'll miss the train," he said. I nodded and handed him my bag.
"First, I want to meet Aunty, please," I said, feeling like I didn't know when we'd see each other again.
"Okay, hurry up, let's go," he replied, and we both headed towards her house. I rang the bell.
"Who's there?" her voice came from inside.
"Aunty, it's me and Meera Api," Qasim said, and she opened the door.
"Meera, all ready?" she asked, and I nodded, hugging her tightly.
"Take care, Aunty. I love you so much, and thank you for everything," I said with tears in my eyes.
"Daughters don't say thanks to their mothers, my dear. I love you the most. Now hurry up and take care of yourself," she said as she broke the hug, wiping away my tears. I kissed her hands.
"Let's go, Api," I heard Qasim's voice, and I nodded. I hugged Aunty one last time before leaving with him.
"How are we going?" I asked, noticing him busy with his phone.
"By taxi, Api. I'm waiting for it," he replied. I made an 'oh' face, and soon, the taxi arrived. We both got in, and the ride to the railway station was quiet. When we arrived, he urged me.
"Hurry up," he said, handing me my handbag with all my essentials.
"Api, take care, please. I'll miss you so much," he said, and I smiled.
"I'll miss my handsome friend and brother a lot too," I replied, tears welling up as I watched him leave.
"Don't cry, Api. Sisters only look good when they're happy in front of their brothers," he said. I nodded with a smile.
"Allah Hafiz, Qasim, take care," I said, waving at him.
"Allah Hafiz, Api," he replied as the train started to move. I found myself sitting with a group of aunties who were very kind.
"Where are you going, dear?" one of them asked. I stayed silent, unsure of where destiny was taking me. I didn't know what plans Allah had for me, so what could I say?
"I don't know, Aunty," I answered, not realizing the tears in my eyes.
"Don't worry, dear. Allah will make everything right," she said, and I nodded.
I started reciting a dua, and the journey from Lahore to Karachi began. I didn't even notice when I fell asleep.
I woke up to the soft hum of the train and the faint chatter of the aunties around me. My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, I forgot where I was. The scent of chai and the warmth of the morning sun streaming through the window quickly reminded me: I was on my way to Karachi, a journey of the unknown.
As I stretched slightly, one of the aunties next to me smiled warmly.
"Beta, chai piyogi?"(dear will you have tea?) she asked, offering me a cup of tea.
I smiled back and shook my head gently. "No, thank you, Aunty. I'm alright."
She nodded, but her gaze lingered on me for a moment longer. "You remind me of my daughter," she said softly, and I felt a warmth in her words that I couldn't quite describe.
The train rocked gently as it sped forward, and I found myself gazing out the window. The landscape was changing, the green fields of Punjab fading into drier, dustier terrain. The journey was moving faster than I had anticipated, and soon, we would arrive in Karachi.
I closed my eyes for a moment, silently reciting the du'as I had whispered so many times in my life. "Ya Allah, guide me. I trust in You and the plans You have for me. Whatever comes, I know You are with me."
As the train neared the station, the aunties around me began to gather their belongings, preparing for their own arrivals. I could feel the energy shift, the anticipation building as the city grew closer. I, too, grabbed my bag and stood up, ready to face what was ahead.
When we finally arrived, the train slowed to a stop, and I followed the crowd towards the exit. The platform was buzzing with lifeΒ families reuniting, vendors selling snacks, porters hurrying past with luggage. It was overwhelming, yet strangely comforting in its chaos.
"Where will you go, beta?" one of the aunties asked as we walked towards the station's exit.
I smiled softly, not sure how to answer. "Wherever Allah takes me, Aunty."
She nodded, her eyes full of understanding. "Then you don't have to be scared dear, Trust Allah always."
"I do, Aunty," I replied, my heart feeling lighter with each step.
As I stepped out into the city, I felt the weight of the unknown ahead, but I also felt the strength of my faith pushing me forward. I didn't need to know where I was going, because I knew who was guiding me. With that belief, I took my first steps into Karachi, ready to embrace whatever destiny Allah had written for me.
"Ya Allah, protect me," I made a dua and started walking towards a taxi. I sat inside.
"Where to, sister?" the man asked me, and I took out the address aunty gave me.
"Here," I said with a trembling voice and handed him the address.
The ride went silent, and soon we arrived at aunty's sister's house.
"We're here," the driver said, and I nodded, handing him the money aunty had given me. I got out and rang the doorbell.
An old lady opened the door. "Who is it?" she asked, and I replied softly,
"It's Meera, aunty."
"Oh, Meera Hashim, right, beta?" she asked, and I nodded.
"Come inside," she said, and I walked in.
"My name is Ayesha. You can call me aunty, and here is your room." Aunty led me to a small but pretty room.
"Thank you, aunty," I said, and she smiled.
"Freshen up, and I'll bring you something to eat," she said. I nodded and entered the room. After changing clothes, I offered my prayer.
I was making a dua when I heard aunty coming. I quickly wiped my tears and stood up, folding the mat.
"Welcome to Karachi beta" she said and I smiled
"Thank you aunty" I replied gently she put some fruits on the table
"You eat this and rest for a while then we will talk" she said
"Oky" I replied and sit on the bed in my thoughts as I wasn't feeling like eating so I lay down on the bed as I need rest so badly and with no time sleep consumed me.
I quietly got up, careful not to make any noise. Gathering myself, i packed a small bag with essentials,myΒ hands trembling slightly.I quickly put on my abaya and niqab. This was my way out. There was no turning back now.
With a deep breath, i carefully opened my bedroom door, making sure no one was awake. The house was quiet, everyone sound asleep. Silently, i slipped out, leaving everything behind.
As i moved away from the house, i saw a familiar figure standing in the distance. It was Qasim,he is 15 years old who always calls me Api he is like a younger brother to me.
"Api, are you ready?" he asked, and I nodded.
"I'm a little stressed," I confessed, and he smiled at me.
"Don't worry, Api, you got this! Now give me your things, and hurry up, or we'll miss the train," he said. I nodded and handed him my bag.
"First, I want to meet Aunty, please," I said, feeling like I didn't know when we'd see each other again.
"Okay, hurry up, let's go," he replied, and we both headed towards her house. I rang the bell.
"Who's there?" her voice came from inside.
"Aunty, it's me and Meera Api," Qasim said, and she opened the door.
"Meera, all ready?" she asked, and I nodded, hugging her tightly.
"Take care, Aunty. I love you so much, and thank you for everything," I said with tears in my eyes.
"Daughters don't say thanks to their mothers, my dear. I love you the most. Now hurry up and take care of yourself," she said as she broke the hug, wiping away my tears. I kissed her hands.
"Let's go, Api," I heard Qasim's voice, and I nodded. I hugged Aunty one last time before leaving with him.
"How are we going?" I asked, noticing him busy with his phone.
"By taxi, Api. I'm waiting for it," he replied. I made an 'oh' face, and soon, the taxi arrived. We both got in, and the ride to the railway station was quiet. When we arrived, he urged me.
"Hurry up," he said, handing me my handbag with all my essentials.
"Api, take care, please. I'll miss you so much," he said, and I smiled.
"I'll miss my handsome friend and brother a lot too," I replied, tears welling up as I watched him leave.
"Don't cry, Api. Sisters only look good when they're happy in front of their brothers," he said. I nodded with a smile.
"Allah Hafiz, Qasim, take care," I said, waving at him.
"Allah Hafiz, Api," he replied as the train started to move. I found myself sitting with a group of aunties who were very kind.
"Where are you going, dear?" one of them asked. I stayed silent, unsure of where destiny was taking me. I didn't know what plans Allah had for me, so what could I say?
"I don't know, Aunty," I answered, not realizing the tears in my eyes.
"Don't worry, dear. Allah will make everything right," she said, and I nodded.
I started reciting a dua, and the journey from Lahore to Karachi began. I didn't even notice when I fell asleep.
I woke up to the soft hum of the train and the faint chatter of the aunties around me. My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, I forgot where I was. The scent of chai and the warmth of the morning sun streaming through the window quickly reminded me: I was on my way to Karachi, a journey of the unknown.
As I stretched slightly, one of the aunties next to me smiled warmly.
"Beta, chai piyogi?"(dear will you have tea?) she asked, offering me a cup of tea.
I smiled back and shook my head gently. "No, thank you, Aunty. I'm alright."
She nodded, but her gaze lingered on me for a moment longer. "You remind me of my daughter," she said softly, and I felt a warmth in her words that I couldn't quite describe.
The train rocked gently as it sped forward, and I found myself gazing out the window. The landscape was changing, the green fields of Punjab fading into drier, dustier terrain. The journey was moving faster than I had anticipated, and soon, we would arrive in Karachi.
I closed my eyes for a moment, silently reciting the du'as I had whispered so many times in my life. "Ya Allah, guide me. I trust in You and the plans You have for me. Whatever comes, I know You are with me."
As the train neared the station, the aunties around me began to gather their belongings, preparing for their own arrivals. I could feel the energy shift, the anticipation building as the city grew closer. I, too, grabbed my bag and stood up, ready to face what was ahead.
When we finally arrived, the train slowed to a stop, and I followed the crowd towards the exit. The platform was buzzing with lifeΒ families reuniting, vendors selling snacks, porters hurrying past with luggage. It was overwhelming, yet strangely comforting in its chaos.
"Where will you go, beta?" one of the aunties asked as we walked towards the station's exit.
I smiled softly, not sure how to answer. "Wherever Allah takes me, Aunty."
She nodded, her eyes full of understanding. "Then you don't have to be scared dear, Trust Allah always."
"I do, Aunty," I replied, my heart feeling lighter with each step.
As I stepped out into the city, I felt the weight of the unknown ahead, but I also felt the strength of my faith pushing me forward. I didn't need to know where I was going, because I knew who was guiding me. With that belief, I took my first steps into Karachi, ready to embrace whatever destiny Allah had written for me.
"Ya Allah, protect me," I made a dua and started walking towards a taxi. I sat inside.
"Where to, sister?" the man asked me, and I took out the address aunty gave me.
"Here," I said with a trembling voice and handed him the address.
The ride went silent, and soon we arrived at aunty's sister's house.
"We're here," the driver said, and I nodded, handing him the money aunty had given me. I got out and rang the doorbell.
An old lady opened the door. "Who is it?" she asked, and I replied softly,
"It's Meera, aunty."
"Oh, Meera Hashim, right, beta?" she asked, and I nodded.
"Come inside," she said, and I walked in.
"My name is Ayesha. You can call me aunty, and here is your room." Aunty led me to a small but pretty room.
"Thank you, aunty," I said, and she smiled.
"Freshen up, and I'll bring you something to eat," she said. I nodded and entered the room. After changing clothes, I offered my prayer.
I was making a dua when I heard aunty coming. I quickly wiped my tears and stood up, folding the mat.
"Welcome to Karachi beta" she said and I smiled
"Thank you aunty" I replied gently she put some fruits on the table
"You eat this and rest for a while then we will talk" she said
"Oky" I replied and sit on the bed in my thoughts as I wasn't feeling like eating so I lay down on the bed as I need rest so badly and with no time sleep consumed me.
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